PCB should keep Amir away from national team: Inzamam-ul-Haq

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk/APP) Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to keep away Mohammad Amir from the national team saying if the pacer is selected again then it will divert the focus of other players away from cricket.

Amir has made a big impact in the first stage of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with his bowling and has generated a big debate on how long the national selectors can ignore his performances and keep him outof the Pakistan team.

Inzamam said it would not be a good idea to allow either Amir or the two other players (Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif) involved in the spot fixing scandal back into the Pakistan team.

"If Amir is selected again for the national team it will divert the focus of the other players away from cricket and there will be added pressure on them and Amir," Pakpassion.net quoted Inzamam as saying.

He said if Amir is selected in the Pakistan team and when it goes to England, Australia or even India the media will just focus on him and it will mean problems in the dressing room.

"I have nothing personal against anyone but the PCB had to decide on a policy regarding tainted players independent of even what the ICC says on this."

He said Amir would also face a lot of pressure and problems on his return.

"I can imagine the questions that would be asked if Pakistan lost a close match or if he couldn't perform at the right time. I can imagine the taunts from the crowd and all these things will only divert the attention of the team away from cricket," Inzamam added.

Many former Pakistan stalwarts including Javed Miandad and Rashid Latif have opposed the return of the tainted trio to the national team.

But in a clear divide many other former players also believe that since Aamir, Butt and Asif have served their punishments for spot fixing they deserve a second chance.